Coolant and Battery Fluid Tester

[rshadd]

I was flipping through a GM service manual and they showed a refractometer type device. I've always used the cheap $3 bulb type and just counted the balls.

Is the refractometer type worth the expensive? Curious what you guys use.

 

[doctordirt]

Refractometer, much more accurate, but expensive too.

 

[theoldwizard1]

There is now a device that detects "combustion products" in coolant to determine if you have a blown head gasket.

The couple of dollar Prestone hydrometers are fine.